Donn Cuailnge facts for kids
The Donn Cúailnge (pronounced Dunn Koo-al-ing-eh) was a famous brown bull from the Cooley Peninsula in Irish mythology. He was known for being very strong and fertile. A huge war, called the Táin Bó Cúailnge (which means "Cattle Raid of Cooley"), was fought over him. This story is part of the Ulster Cycle, a collection of ancient Irish tales.
Contents
How the Story Was Told
A very old story from the 800s explains how the tale of the great bull came to be known. In the 500s, a poet named Senchán Torpéist gathered all the poets in Ireland. He wanted to know if any of them knew the full story of the Táin Bó Cúailnge. But they only knew parts of it.
Senchán's son, Muirgen, went to the grave of a hero named Fergus mac Róich. Muirgen spoke a poem, and Fergus's ghost appeared! The ghost then told Muirgen the entire story of the Táin exactly as it happened.
The Legend of Donn Cúailnge
The Bulls' Strange Beginning
The Donn Cúailnge wasn't always a bull. He was once a man named Friuch, who looked after pigs for Bodb Dearg, a king of the magical sidh (fairy mounds) in Munster. Friuch had a disagreement with another pig-keeper named Rucht. Rucht worked for Ochall Ochne, a king from Connacht.
The two pig-keepers fought and changed into many different animals and even human forms. In the end, they became two tiny worms. These worms were swallowed by two cows. Later, they were reborn as two mighty bulls: Donn Cúailnge and Finnbhennach (which means "White-horned").
Donn Cúailnge belonged to Dáire mac Fiachna, a wealthy cattle owner in Ulster. Finnbhennach was born into the herds of Queen Medb of Connacht. However, Finnbhennach thought it was beneath him to belong to a woman. So, he joined the herds of Medb's husband, Ailill.
Medb Wants the Bull
The goddess Mórrígan had a young cow that she took to Cooley. She wanted Donn Cúailnge to be the father of its calf. The calf that was born later fought Finnbhennach and almost won. After seeing this, Queen Medb decided she wanted to see Finnbhennach fight Donn Cúailnge, the calf's powerful father.
Medb also realized that her husband, Ailill, was richer than her because he owned Finnbhennach. She wanted to be just as wealthy. So, she decided she must have Donn Cúailnge.
Medb sent messengers to Dáire, Donn's owner. She offered him a huge amount of land and treasure if he would lend her the bull for a year. Dáire agreed to the generous offer. However, one of Medb's messengers boasted that if Dáire hadn't agreed, Medb would have just taken the bull by force. When Dáire heard this, he was angry and changed his mind. He refused to lend the bull.
The Cattle Raid Begins
Because Dáire backed out of the deal, Medb decided to raise an army to steal Donn Cúailnge. She marched her forces towards Ulster. Fergus mac Róich, who knew the land well, was chosen to lead Medb's army.
The Mórrígan, appearing as a crow, warned Donn Cúailnge that an army was coming. Donn Cúailnge became furious and went on a rampage.
The men of Ulster wanted to fight Medb's army. But they were under a curse from Macha, the wife of Cruinniuc. This curse made them too weak to fight. The only person strong enough to defend Ulster was a seventeen-year-old hero named Cú Chulainn. However, Cúchulainn was not watching the border as he should have been. This allowed Medb's army to surprise Ulster.
Medb's forces eventually found Donn Cúailnge. The first herdsman from Connacht who tried to capture him was gored by the bull. Donn then stampeded through the army camp with fifty young cows. He killed fifty warriors before charging off into the countryside.
Cúchulainn's Stand
Cúchulainn met Medb's army at the mount of Slieve Foy. He challenged them to single combat at a river crossing. For months, Cúchulainn fought and defeated many champions, holding the entire army back.
While Cúchulainn was busy, a man named Buide mac Báin found Donn Cúailnge. He began driving Donn and twenty-four cows towards Connacht. Cúchulainn quickly killed Buide mac Báin and his twenty-four followers. But in the chaos, Donn Cúailnge escaped again.
The Final Battle of the Bulls
Eventually, after a fierce battle with the Ulster forces, Medb's armies had to retreat. But they did manage to bring Donn Cúailnge back to Cruachan, Medb's home.
There, Donn Cúailnge finally met Finnbhennach. The two mighty bulls fought a long and difficult battle. In the end, Donn Cúailnge killed his rival, Finnbhennach.
Donn Cúailnge was also badly wounded in the fight. He wandered around Ireland, and many places are said to be named after him. Finally, he returned to Cooley, his home, where he died.
Images for kids
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Statue of Donn Cuailnge on the Cooley Peninsula
